The elegantly appointed three-bedroom, three-bath condominium at 70 Beachside Drive #101 in Ocean Club II at Orchid Island is ready for owners looking for a turnkey property – all you need to do is unpack your bags and settle in.
Dr. Art and the Hon. Sandy McLaughlin purchased the luxurious, low-rise oceanfront condominium 10 years ago as a tropical getaway. At the time, the couple enlisted designer Lori Andriot with the iconic, 165-year-old design firm Bittners, and the beautiful setting she created along with most of the furnishings are included in the price of the property.
“I’m a Florida native,” shares Sandy McLaughlin. “I was born and raised in Palm Beach County and had some family in Vero Beach, so I always knew we were coming back here. We just love Vero Beach, and we’re going to make this our permanent home.”
They were drawn to the beautiful ocean views from Orchid Island’s Ocean Club and the bonus of the first-floor unit with a private staircase off the oceanfront terrace made it too perfect to pass up. “We’re dog lovers, and it’s important for us to be able to open the back door and have the grass under our feet.”
McLaughlin says she loves the British West Indies style architecture. To complement the relaxed, elegance of the islands, which features wood and stucco facades, stately columns, arched loggias and lush gardens – all with a focus on indoor-outdoor living – Andriot created a warm and organic environment, with a taste of the tropics pulled in.
“We did some unexpected things with crocodile fabric on the chairs, but it’s still done in a very classic style . . . it is as current today as it was when we designed the house,” explains Andriot, adding “I’m not into hugely trendy things but classic things, good art, good lines and good bones.
“I approach every property in a very different manner. I don’t like things to be expected or pedestrian. The McLaughlins love art, and the condo served as a backdrop to all of that beautiful art. The activity comes mainly from the color palette and then the art,” says Andriot, adding that the pieces by David Francis, the Donghia fabrics, organic rugs with reeds, and a dark grass-cloth ceiling in the master bedroom add drama and texture.
The first-floor unit sits above the parking garage and is accessed via private elevator that opens into a welcoming foyer before giving way to the generous living area with a spectacular view of the ocean through a wall of French doors. The color scheme the McLaughlins settled on allows the viewer’s attention to focus on the sparkling blue ocean and showcases the couple’s art collection, primarily pieces from the Meghan Candler Gallery.
With the formal living area at the center of the unit, the split floorplan allows for optimal guest privacy with two guest bedrooms and bathrooms located off the kitchen, with a laundry room and a shared sunset balcony.
The gourmet kitchen with granite surfaces and the dining room with access to the wraparound oceanfront terrace complete the open floorplan for ease of entertaining. Guests can have private conversations on the terrace or chat with the hostess in the kitchen.
The rich colors and dark, hand-scraped wood flooring counter the abundance of natural light that pours in through the French doors, flooding the formal living area. At the center of the room, a marble-faced gas fireplace flanked by custom built-ins is the perfect place to curl up on a stormy day.
The master suite on the south side of the unit has doors that open onto the ocean-view terrace. Imagine waking up every morning as the sun rises over the aquamarine waters of the Atlantic Ocean and stepping outside to breath the sea air. Besides natural drama, the room has some playful touches too – in particular, the grass-cloth wallpaper in the tray ceiling, a horse lamp, hand-carved ceiling fan and alligator print, details that add personality to the room.
The grass-cloth wallpaper carries over into the master bathroom, accenting the elegance of the space, which includes a water closet, jetted tub, dual sinks, shower and walk-in closet that combine to create a spa-like atmosphere.
It is just a few short steps to the beach from the oceanfront terrace, with a private dune crossover that makes it feel like you’re on your own secluded beach.
“We love the serenity and peacefulness of the ocean and the proximity, being able to step out our back door and walk right across the dunes,” says McLaughlin.
“We’re not leaving Vero. We love it here, and we’re investing in this community,” says McLaughlin of their plans to build a home nearby as they transition to living here fulltime. “My husband and I are building veteran housing in Vero Beach on Royal Palm. We’ve set our roots in Vero Beach, and we’re looking forward to staying here. We’re just hoping that somebody will find our home to be as wonderful and enjoyable and lovely as we do.”
“It’s a fabulous community with something for everyone: tennis, golf, the fitness center, pools and two venues for dining,” says Colleen Liebert, Coldwell Banker Paradise. “The direct access to the beach, proximity to the crossover, the furnishings and the beach club make this such an attractive property.”
Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club is a private resort community located just north of Vero Beach with easy access to Melbourne, Sebastian and Vero. The country club community is ideally situated between two environmental havens: the Pelican Island Wildlife Sanctuary and the Environmental Learning Center. It’s just minutes from shopping and restaurants on Ocean Drive, Riverside Theatre and the Vero Beach Museum of Art.
In addition to the 18-hole championship golf course designed by Arnold Palmer, Orchid Island offers a wide variety of amenities, including the Beach Clubhouse, Golf Clubhouse and Tennis/Fitness Center.
Vital Statistics
- Address: 70 Beachside Drive #101
- Neighborhood: Ocean Club II at Orchid Island
- Year built: 1999
- Construction: Reinforced Concrete, Steel, with stucco finish
- Architecture: British West Indies
- Home size: 2,400 square feet
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 3
- View: 180-degree ocean view
- Additional features: Gated, security-patrolled community; private elevator; trash chute; fireplace; hardwood flooring; jetted tub; oceanfront terrace; private stairs; nearby dune crossover; covered parking; golf cart parking station; community pool; furniture included
- Listing agency: Coldwell Banker Paradise
- Listing agent: Colleen Liebert, 772-696-2881
- Listing price: $1,350,000
